Improved operations and increased safety for the Mackinac Island Fire Department will be the benefits of a federal grant awarded by the Department of Homeland Security.

The department will receive a $52,250 grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Mackinac Island award is for operations and safety improvements, and can fund items such as professional training, wellness and fitness programs and equipment, personal protective gear for firefighters, facilities improvements, and supplies that support firefighting and EMS operations.

Fire departments across the country compete for federal grant money through the program in several categories.

Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow announced the grant and underscored the importance of supporting safety measures for emergency personnel and the public.

“We depend on our first responders to be there when an emergency strikes, and they depend on us for the support they need to do their job,” Levin said in a news release.“This grant will help provide that support so the Mackinac Island Fire Department can continue to protect their community.”

Stabenow agreed, adding, “Across Michigan, our firefighters provide critical, courageous service to communities like Mackinac Island. This grant provides the resources they need to perform their duties safely and protect the public.”